Cap Cana Heritage School: 4th Graders Take the Iron Giraffe Challenge: Walking for Water, Learning for Life

Cap Cana Heritage School: 4th Graders Take the Iron Giraffe Challenge: Walking for Water, Learning for Life

Article written by:
Ana Priscila Núñez – 4th Grade Teacher
Cap Cana Heritage School – Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

At Cap Cana Heritage School in Punta Cana, learning goes beyond textbooks it is rooted in empathy, connection, and purpose. This year, our vibrant 4th graders proved what happens when reading turns into action and curiosity grows into compassion.

What began as a class read-aloud of A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park soon transformed into a powerful service-learning initiative. As students followed the stories of Nya and Salva, they began asking meaningful questions: Why do some children have to walk for hours to find water? What can we do to help? Their curiosity led them to join the Iron Giraffe Challenge, a global effort led by Water for South Sudan that helps provide access to clean water for communities in need.
With an ambitious goal of raising $5,000 to build a well in South Sudan. Our students became advocates, designers, and young global citizens.

To launch their campaign, they organized Fall Color Day, painting the school in vibrant hues while spreading awareness and collecting donations. Building on that momentum, they hosted A Walk to Water Mini-Expo, a fully student-led event featuring three interactive stations that helped visitors experience the challenges of water scarcity and the transformative power of clean water access:
“A Short Walk for Water” - Visitors carried jugs or buckets of water along a marked path, simulating the daily journey of children like Nya while reading facts and quotes about life in South Sudan.

“Did You Know?” Sudan Trivia – Through a fun, student-created trivia game, guests explored facts about A Long Walk to Water and the global water crisis, guided by student presenters.

“Our Walk to Water” Student Ambassador Corner – Student ambassadors shared the purpose of the Iron Giraffe Challenge, explaining how clean water transforms lives and what they’ve learned about empathy and global citizenship.

Their learning didn’t stop there. Partnering with our Makerspace program, students designed and built a lemonade stand from scratch measuring, cutting, and assembling materials to create a functional, student-constructed booth for their next fundraiser. In the process, they integrated ELA, Social Studies, Science, and Design Thinking, turning abstract ideas into hands-on learning experiences that connect academics to real-world impact.

As one student reflected,
“We’re learning that helping others is part of learning. Even though we’re kids, we can make a real difference.”

As they prepare to debut their lemonade stand at the Halloween Frolic, these young changemakers continue walking for those who walk every day demonstrating that learning, when driven by empathy and purpose, can ripple far beyond the classroom.
Through this project, our school community has been reminded that the most powerful education is one that connects knowledge to action. We hope this initiative inspires other classrooms across the Tri-Association network to imagine what is possible when students see themselves as global citizens and agents of change.
Interested in learning more or supporting our project?
Visit fundraising website (https://secure.givelively.org/teams/water-for-south-sudan-inc/iron-giraffe-challenge-2026/the-marlins) Photos: canva Presentation (https://www.canva.com/design/DAGPVqY8Tss/iPzb41l0-08Rr9F5oEX93g/edit?utm_content=DAGPVqY8Tss&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton)
contact: Ms. Ana Priscila Núñez (a.nunez@cchs.edu.do) & Ms. Cierra Hatzenbihler (c.hatzenbihler@cchs.edu.do)